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Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring Shoulder Board Devices, reproduction of the metal insignia mounted on the shoulder boards of the rank Reichsmarschall des Großdeutschen Reiches. This rank was created in July 1940 and awarded exclusively to Hermann Göring, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe. It stood above Generalfeldmarschall, making it the highest military rank established within the German armed forces of the period.
The device consisted of a gold-coloured eagle placed above two crossed marshal batons. The eagle connected the insignia to the Luftwaffe and the official symbolism of the Reich, while the crossed batons represented the traditional European emblem of supreme military command. On complete shoulder boards, these devices were mounted on braided gold cords, often described as three gold bullion cords or “Russian braid”, set over a white or off-white cloth backing.
From a technical point of view, original and accurate reproduction devices normally feature a gilded or gold-plated finish, raised detailing and rear attachment systems such as prongs or pins for fixing them to the shoulder board. Modern reproductions may differ in the tone of the gilding, the sharpness of the eagle, the modelling of the marshal batons and the textile base, but the essential design remains unmistakably tied to Göring’s personal rank.
Their historical importance lies in their unique rank association. These devices did not belong to a standard grade held by multiple officers; they represented a special rank created for one individual. For this reason, Reichsmarschall shoulder boards and their metal devices are among the most distinctive and unusual insignia within the Luftwaffe uniform system. Specialist references also note that Göring’s Reichsmarschall insignia appears to have evolved through several variations, known mainly from period photographs and a very small number of surviving examples.
Curiosity: Göring had several uniform pieces made specifically for him, including white summer tunics and dove-grey variants. Some details were altered according to personal preference, making his uniforms an exceptional case within German military tailoring of the Second World War.
